“We can and must do more to live up to our human duty to help and protect those in dire need.”

Marking World Humanitarian Day, senior OCHA official John Ging outlines the importance of humanitarian assistance, the challenges aid workers face, and what can be done to address current humanitarian crises.

Five years after Sri Lanka's bloody civil war came to an end, questions of accountability for alleged abuses have still not been fully resolved. Martti Ahtisaari has been named as one of three advisors to a UN team investigating human rights violations in the country.

How should the international community promote universal human rights, while respecting cultural differences? Hina Jilani and Mary Robinson discussed this question during the Elders debate in Oxford last week.

The Elders are independent global leaders, brought together by Nelson Mandela, who offer their collective influence and experience to support peace building, help address major causes of human suffering and promote the shared interests of humanity.